Hay

Hay has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Hay's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 2,926 people. This figure represents an increase of 29 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,897. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; Hay had an estimated resident population of 2,926 in June 2025 and gained 41 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 0.20 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 79.4% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Hay's population is projected to decline by 285 persons according to this methodology. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow; notably, the 75 to 84 age group is projected to increase by 56 people.

The level of residential development activity in Hay is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Hay has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 23 homes were approved, with an additional four approved in FY26 so far. Despite a falling population during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $365,000. In the current financial year, $19.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Hay has significantly less development activity, 63.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, although construction activity has intensified recently. The level of development activity is also lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

All new construction to date has been comprised of standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 477 people, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. With population projections showing stability or decline, Hay should see reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

Hay has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Hay Structure Plan, John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade, Hay Health Services Redevelopment, and Bishops Lodge Affordable Housing Development. The following list details those likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.9%, Hay has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Hay has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs and various sectors. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.9%, in line with Regional NSW's rate. Workforce participation stands at 68.2%, higher than Regional NSW's 60.5%.

According to Census responses, 11.8% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and construction, with a strong specialization in the former (4.7 times the regional level). Health care & social assistance employs 7.9% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data.

From December 2024 to December 2025, Hay's labour force decreased by 1.9%, employment fell by 2.4%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, the labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Hay's employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Hay's employment mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Hay SA2 has lower income than the national average. The median income is $50,789 and the average income is $62,437. This contrasts with Regional NSW where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $56,030 (median) and $68,880 (average). Census data reveals that Hay's household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 15th and 28th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 29.6% of residents (866 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing costs are modest with 91.9% of income retained, but the total disposable income ranks at just the 24th percentile nationally.

Hay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Hay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hay stood at 47.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.9% and rented ones at 28.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $894, significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Hay was recorded as $175, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Hay's mortgage repayments were notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hay features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.7% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.3%, with lone person households at 33.7% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4 people.

Hay faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 12.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.0%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (29.5%). Educational participation is high at 28.6%, comprising 11.8% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Hay has 17 operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 8 distinct routes, facilitating 74 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport access is limited, with residents, on average, living 1749 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outwards daily due to Hay's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 86% of residents, while walking accounts for 11%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.8% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency stands at approximately 10 trips per day across all routes, translating to around 4 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Hay is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Hay's health data indicates significant issues, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups show high prevalence of common health conditions.

Only approximately 50% (~1,474 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (10.3%) and arthritis (9.8%), with 61.3% claiming to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents face substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Hay has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 27.1% (792 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%. National rankings for these conditions are even higher than the general population.

Hay is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Hay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.7% of its population being citizens, 92.2% born in Australia, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Hay, comprising 69.7% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.9%), English (32.8%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal were overrepresented at 6.3%, Maori at 0.5%, and Scottish at 7.7%.

Hay hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Hay's median age is 48 years, which is older than Regional NSW's median age of 43 and significantly higher than the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that the 55-64 year-olds are particularly prominent at 16.7%, while the 35-44 group is smaller at 8.3% compared to Regional NSW. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 11.5% to 14.2%, and the 85+ cohort has increased from 3.1% to 4.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 9.9%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 18.2% to 16.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Hay's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to grow steadily by 61 people (25%) from 247 to 309. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 86% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.